The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-17
THE FRENCH DIAMONDS
ABOUT TO be OFFERED FOR
SALE IN PARIS.
SOmethisg About the Women Who
Wore Them and Their Rescue
From PaMnbrokers.

PARIS April lb.-The famous
Crown diamonds which have been
selected for sale will be exhibit
ed and auctioned during the first
fortnight in May. The event is
now noticed on the walls of the
capital by means of the large white
official posters used for government
notices. The history of these bril-
liant ornaments, which will shortly
be published by M. German Bapst,
is full of interest. M. Bapst dates
the existence of the precious proper
ty back to the days of Francis |,
who, when he was about to marry
Eleonora, of Austria, sister of Charles
V, went to Bordeaux in order to
meet his bride elect, and in the joy
OF his heart established the treasure
known as the Grown diamonds"
which he bequeathed to his success
ors, thereby meaning the State, as
Republican writers are careful to
point out. The treasure was only
worth at that time something
over 3,25O,000 francs, and con-
sisted OF a large bracelet and six
rings. Three of the valuable stones,
called, respectively, the Belle
Pointe," the Cote lie Bretagne" and
the "Gut de Naples" were mort
gagged in 1888 by Henry III, when
he wanted to march against the
Spaniards. They were not returned
to the Treasury until 1910, when Col
bert obtained an order for that pur-
pose. The Cote de Bretagne" was
set in the Order of the Golden Fleece
by Gay, who was styled "Engraver to
Madame de Pompadour," and was
worn by Louis XIV and bis i'll fated
successor. 1t also appears that some
of the diamonds were worn, contrary
to the statutes enacted by Francis |,
by Diana, of Poitiers, mistress of
Henry II; but Francis III ordered
their return to the exchequer. There
is also supposed to be among the col
lection diamond called the "Grande
Table" which Catherine de Medicis
offered to the English Government in
exchange for Calias. French his
terians record that the willy Catha-
rine duped the English by giving
them a small sum of money and keep
ing the diamond and the town.
She had, however, to mortgage
it to the Venetians in 1863, when
the Germans invaded France. In the
reign of Henry III the diamonds
were distributed with the greatest
generosity among the mistresses of
that monarch. Many were, however,
collected by Sully, and in the reign
of Henry ~ the famous "Sancy"
diamond, which had been bought
somewhere by colonel of Swiss, was
sold by him to James | OF England.
1t returned to France with Queen
Henriette after the execution of
Charles l. She sold it to the Due
d'Epernon, who gave it to Mazarin
together with the "Miroir de Portu-
gal, which had also been the prop
erty Of the Stuarts. The "Sancy'
was stolen in 1892, but was afterward
found and sold by Napoleon. The
"Miroir" aud the "Grande Table"
are probably in the Treasury now,
although their identity is not known.
The Regent" diamond did not enter
the Treasury until 1717. The IA
nous theft OF most of the valuable
State property during the Revolu-
ton was effected in the most auda-
cious manner by the Reds, who were
secretly helped by Danton, Vergni-
aud, and Sergent, the Chief Of Po-
lice, who in memory Of the event
was dubbed " Sergent Agate. "
Most of the diamonds were soon
found, but the Regent was only
discovered year afterward in wine
shop iu the Faubourg St. German.
Napoleon wore it in the hilt of his
sword when he was crowned Emper-
or. The same potentate added con-
siderably to the crown diamonds, and
in 1874 the whole of the valuable col
lection was taken to Blois by Maria
Louise. The jewels were subse-
quently sent to Louis XVIII, who
took them to Client when he fed
thither During the Franco Ger
man war the crown diamonds were
intrusted to the Governor of the
Bank of France. They were taken
away from Paris, and did not return
until 1875. Such is a brief sketch
4 of the remarkable history of these
briliants, many of which will be Of
fered for sale in a few weeks. 1t is
supposed that some et them will be
purchased by foreign sovere;gns as
souvenirs, but the majority, being
old fashioned in their settings, will
not be sought after by the general
public, but left to the tender mereies
of the dealers, who vii! d;smosn:
them.